The Chinese Government will ban shops from handing out plastic carrier bags in June.

It is estimated that the Chinese use as many plastic bags in a week as Australia uses in a year.

Mr Dee says Australia's phase-out should be sped up.

"Australia of course is looking to phase out plastic bags in 2009 and the fact that China desires to do it in less than six months, I think is a sign that ... we could do it faster than that.," he said.

Mr Dee believes that the Chinese Government is using the issue as a signal that it is taking environmental issues very seriously.

"The fact that the biggest country in the world, the biggest users of plastic bags, are moving to ban them ... is extremely important, because if it can be done in China it can be done in any country in the world."